AN anti-abortion campaigner has attacked moves to make the abortion pill widely available at Bolton's family planning clinics.

Bolton Pro-Life campaigner, Brain Tetlow, has branded the moves by the Government as "morally repugnant".

He claims the Department of Health is choosing "quick-fix" measures with complete disregard for health and family values.

Mr Tetlow said: "The Government is to allow women to have the abortion pill at up to nine weeks pregnant.

"Apart from anything, there is a health question as women are given powerful hormones to procure abortion.

"There is also a moral issue and the repugnance of a quick fix government solution to this social problem."

Bolton clinics under the control of the Primary Care Trust will be allowed to prescribe the drug which induces an abortion without the need for surgery.

Previously, this kind of treatment was only allowed to be given in hospitas. Patients will still have to get approval from two doctors.

Mr Tetlow added: "This policy shows very little regard for the health of women and the government is more concerned with the success of its statistics. Who knows what other affects this abortion pill will have among women who are already using drugs."

The Wigan and Bolton health area has a high abortion rate for schoolgirls under 16 which rose in 2000 from 4.8 per 1,000 to 5.2 per 1,000.

Bolton experts remain baffled as to why the figures have gone up, despite spearheading a massive team effort to bring the figure down.